"...It Thrills Me So...I Turn A Back-Over Flip..."
Hoodoo Records is a relatively new label to the reissue marketplace and
in the last few years have amassed lots of these releases - 'twofer' sets that
mostly concentrate on the first two albums of an artist and then add on some
relevant extras (see list below). This excellent reissue puts out Jackie
Wilson's first two Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues/Soul albums for the Decca
subsidiary label Brunswick - and adds on six bonus tracks. Here are the ‘so
fine’ details…
Released in April 2011 in the UK – "He's So Fine + Lonely Teardrops: The
Definitive Remastered Edition" by JACKIE WILSON on Hoodoo Records 263393
(Barcode 8436028698158) offers two LPs Remastered onto 1CD plus Six Bonus Tracks and it breaks down as follows (71:33 minutes):
1. Etcetera
2. To Be Loved
3. Come Back To Me
4. If I Can Have You
5. As Long As I Live
6. Reet Petite
7. It’s Too Bad We Had To Say Goodbye [Side 2]
8. Why Can’t You Be Mine
9. I’m Wanderin’
10. Right Now
11. Danny Boy
12. It’s So Fine
Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut album "He's So Fine" - released
March 1958 on Brunswick Records BL 54042 in the USA and October 1958 on Vogue
Coral LVA 9087 in the UK [both MONO]
13. Lonely Teardrops
14. Each Time (I Love You More)
15. That’s Why (I Love You So)
16. In The Blue Of Evening
17. The Joke (Is Not On Me)
18. Someone To Need Me (As I Need You)
19. You Better Know It
20. By The Light Of The Silvery Moon
21. Singing A Song
22. Love Is All
23. We Have Love
24. Hush-A-Bye
Tracks 13 to 24 are his 2nd LP "Lonely Teardrops" - released
March 1959 in the USA on Brunswick Records BL 54045 and September 1959 on Coral
LVA 9108 in the UK [both MONO]
BONUS TRACKS:
25. I'll Be Satisfied (a non-album track issued in 1959 as the A-side of
USA 7" single on Brunswick 55136)
26. The Magic Of Love (issued in April 1960 as the B-side to the UK 7" single "Doggin' Around" on Coral Q 72393 and appears on the "So Much" LP of
1960)
27. Give Me You by BILLY WARD and HIS DOMINOES (which featured Jackie
Wilson on Lead Vocals - issued in September 1955 on King Records 1502)
28. Rags To Riches by BILLY WARD and HIS DOMINOES (which featured Jackie
Wilson on Lead Vocals - issued in October 1953 on King Records 1280)
29. You Can't Keep A Good Man Down by BILLY WARD and HIS DOMINOES (which
featured Jackie Wilson on Lead Vocals) - issued in July 1953 on Federal 12139
30. Never Go Away (a non-album track issued in 1959 as the B-side to "You Better Know It" on USA 7" single Brunswick 55149)
The packaging tells us it’s 'digitally remastered' but craftily doesn't
state by who or where and what was used. But it doesn’t take your ears long to
work out that these Brunswick masters are in great shape because the sound
quality is glorious – most of it is fresh, clean and muscular without being
overbearing. It’s very good indeed…
The 16-page booklet has an essay by Vic Westley and it’s peppered with
colour photos of 7" singles, trade adverts, concert snaps and even has the
original liner notes for the "He's So Fine" LP featured on a separate page –
it’s an informative read and very nice to look at.
The songs themselves vary - the magical "Reet Petite" of course and the
Grammy winning "Lonely Teardrops" and the jaunty "That's Why (I Love You So)" with its irresistible beat (lyrics above) shine. But then there's the inevitable terrible
crooner crud in-between - standards like "In The Blue Of Evening", "Danny Boy" and "By The
Light Of The Silvery Moon" – but time hasn't been kind to any of them. Luckily the
more mid-paced and ballad R 'n' B numbers fare better – "Each Time (I Love You
More)" and "I'm Wanderin'" are all saved by his wonderful operatic vocals. "It's So Fine", "If I Can't Have You" and "Why Can't You Be Mine" are such fun
too – a little like the material Presley was drawn to (Wilson was a huge
influence on him).
Niggles – some of the bonus tracks make no rhyme nor reason – the
inclusion of "I'll Be Satisfied" and "Never Go Away" as non-album songs are
right and proper – but "Ask" is the non-album B-side of "I'll Be Satisfied" and it isn't on here? The inclusion of "The Magic Of Love" isn't right either
because it's off the next album "So Much" from 1960 - while the three Billy Ward
and His Dominoes choices hark back to his material at Federal and King and his
output there would take up a whole CD in itself (and has). It's a shame,
because had that other B-side been included here, this release would have allowed
fans to sequence all 8 of his first solo single releases around the 2 LPs. It's
a minor point I know, but one worth making.
Summing up - it doesn’t take particular genius to work out that all of
these Fifties issues are proliferating in 2010 and 2011 because of the 50-year
Copyright law – but that doesn't stop this CD from being a bit of a peach
really. Great music, nice packaging and really clear sound make it a tasty
little number indeed. And didn't the mighty "Mr. Entertainment" deserve just
that…
Recommended.
April 2011 – other Hoodoo Records releases so far include:
1. La Vern & Rock & Roll – LaVERN BAKER [Two Rare Atlantic LPs
from 1956 and 1957 Plus 4 Bonus Tracks]
2. Hank Ballard & The Midnighters + Singin' & Swingin' – HANK
BALLARD and THE MIDNIGHTERS [2 LPs on King plus 2 Bonus Tracks]
3. Rollin’ Till The Break Of Dawn – 25 Original Chess Masters - CHUCK
BERRY
4. Little Boy Blue – The Duke Sides 1952-1959 – BOBBY BLAND [22 Tracks]
5. Please Please Please & Think! – JAMES BROWN and HIS FAMOUS FLAMES
[His First 2 LPs with 4 Bonus Tracks]
6. Rock & Roll & Miss Rhythm – RUTH BROWN [2 Rare LPs From 1957
and 1959 Plus 4 Bonus Tracks]
7. The Fabulous Cadillacs & The Crazy Cadillacs – THE CADILLACS [Two
LPs from 1957 and 1959 Plus 6 Bonus Tracks]
8. Dee Clark & How About That – DEE CLARK [His first 2 LPs from 1959
plus 4 bonus tracks]
9. The Coasters & One By One – THE COASTERS [Two Rare LPs from 1958
and 1960 Plus 3 Bonus Tracks]
10. Eddie Cochran & Singin' To My Baby – EDDIE COCHRAN [His 2nd and
1st LPs Plus 9 Bonus Tracks]
11. Rockin’ Robin – BOBBY DAY [features his 11-track 1958 debut LP plus
13 bonus tracks]
12. Esquerita! – The Definitive Edition – ESQUERITA [20 Tracks]
13. Little Bitty Pretty One – THURSTON HARRIS [25 Tracks]
14. Oh! Suzy-Q – DALE HAWKINS [12-track album plus 12 bonus tracks]
15. Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks & Mr. Dynamo – RONNIE HAWKINS and
THE HAWKS [Two Rare LPs from 1959 and 1960 Plus 5 Bonus Tracks]
16. At Home With… - The Epic and Okeh Recordings – SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS
[12-track album plus 11 bonus tracks]
17. Shout! The Definitive Edition – THE ISLEY BROTHERS [The 1958
“Shout!” LP Plus 8 Bonus Tracks]
18. Little Mister Willie John + Talk To Me – LITTLE WILLIE JOHN
19. No Buts, No Maybes – PROFESSOR LONGHAIR [28 Tracks]
20. Nightless Lover – The Specialty Sides – PERCY MAYFIELD [29 Tracks]
21. Clyde and Rock 'n' Roll – CLYDE McPHATTER
22. Rack 'Em Back – New Orleans R&B Stompers – BOBBY MITCHELL &
THE TOPPERS (26 Tracks)
23. Doin' The Hlly Gully & Dance By The Light Of The Moon – THE
OLYMPICS [2 Rare LPs Plus 5 Bonus Tracks]
24. The Exciting Lloyd Price + Mr. Personality – LLOYD PRICE
25. Rock With Me Baby – Classic Recordings 1956-1960 - BILLY LEE RILEY
[26 Tracks]
26. Gonna Let It Go This Time – RAY SHARPE [20 Tracks]
27. Crazy About You Baby – The Complete 1950-1957 Recordings – RUFUS
THOMAS [20 Tracks]
28. Here's Larry Williams – LARRY WILLIAMS
29. Rockin' With The Sheik Of The Blues – The Okeh and Atlantic Recordings
(29 Tracks) – CHUCK WILLIS
30. He's So Fine & Lonely Teardrops – JACKIE WILSON (His Rare 1958
and 1959 LPs Plus 6 Bonus Tracks]
